Good return pump

mallorieGgator

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Can someone recommend a quiet, good quality yet affordable in sump return pump? The cost to set up my tank is getting rediculous and a $450 return pump is insane imo. I'm going to run a red sea reefer 250 and need something for that. Thanks.
 
Well....Siice are well received and what I am using now (will keep as backup) but I just ordered an Ecotec Vectra M1 for my 135 g. I want to say...~$345
 
I am now running a Jebao DC pump. I was going the same direction as you describe till a fellow reefer talked me out of it and into the Jebao. Very quiet. Low power consumption. Great flow. 1/4 the price. I actually bought a second new one as a spare and it's still less than half that $.
 
I'm running a DCT4000 on my manifold and a RODC 5500 on my return. Both are great pumps and quiet. The 5500 moves an insane amount of water for a pump it's size and price.
 
I used to use eheims but just switched to Tunze silence. They are very strong and almost totally silent.
 
I believe the new version of the jebao is the DCS which is what I have and it's great!
 
I run a rodc 3500 on my reefer 250. The VarioS pumps are the same as the RODC just a different controller. I upgraded mine the new controller so I could run it off the apex and a icecap battery.
 
I personally run the dcs5000 on my 150 gallon display and its only running on about half the power. You could probably go with the model under mine but then again I don't know how much flow you want.
 
I'm looking at these pumps and it scares me how cheap they are. It's like the opposite of the sticker shock I've been having with other pumps. Lol
 
I'm reading on amazon that the pump jebao dcs has a whine. Also that it is odd to plumb. Anyone experience this?
 
I'm looking at these pumps and it scares me how cheap they are. It's like the opposite of the sticker shock I've been having with other pumps. Lol

Lol. They are cheap compared to some of the 400 dollar ones but I guess that's the risk I took. I can't say it'll last 5 years. But if I get a couple years like I noticed some getting, I'm ok with that :D. On another note, I noticed people having better luck with them when getting a pump size that your not going to have to run on full power.
 
I am running a Jebao Sine DC10000 and it has been great. The older Jebao pumps don't have standard US fittings which is why I changed off of my DCT model to the new Sine.
 
The cost to set up my tank is getting rediculous and a $450 return pump is insane imo. I'm going to run a red sea reefer 250 and need something for that.

I don't even want to know what return pump for a Reefer 250 (~50 gallons) could cost $450! :D :D

You only need somewhere around 100-200 GPH for a system than small.

According to this, your system is 55" tall.
http://www.redseafish.com/aquarium-systems/reefer/

According to this, you have lots of inexpensive options:
http://www.lifegardaquatics.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Q1-AQUARIUM-Lit.pdf

So if your budget is pressed I would suggest a Quiet One Pro 1200....$18 at drfost. You should have a backup for your return pump – you can probably afford one at this price!!!!

(These used to be made in Italy, but now made in China....same design and the company stands by them with a good warranty, so...)

If you wanted to still go high-end, a Sicce Syncra 1.5 would do it well for around $50-$70:
Syncra_flowchart.jpg


(Also, I don't really recommend getting a backup for anything else, but losing a return pump is almost always a huge deal and it never happens at an opportune time. And $18 isn't much!)
 
Initially had the Jebao DCT 4000 for my Reefer 250. It died within minutes of starting it up. Tried everything suggested to reset it. It was dead! Returned it and got the Reef Octopus Varios 2 and loved it!! Super silent and it didn't make a huge dent on my wallet. Ended up upgrading to the Varios 6 since I decided to add a manifold and needed extra flow. Both great pumps!

BTW, cheers to a fellow female reefer / NICU respiratory therapist!! Who knew more than one of us existed! ;)
 
run the newest model jebao , I want to say its the DCS. they have improved flow and can handle greater amount of head with less loss. I have a jebao dcs-9000 on my 70G tower( pushing 6feet straight vertical and its on level 4, the tank can handle up to level 7 but id rather use a power head or two for different flow dynamics.
 
I don't even want to know what return pump for a Reefer 250 (~50 gallons) could cost $450! :D :D

You only need somewhere around 100-200 GPH for a system than small.

According to this, your system is 55" tall.
http://www.redseafish.com/aquarium-systems/reefer/

According to this, you have lots of inexpensive options:
http://www.lifegardaquatics.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Q1-AQUARIUM-Lit.pdf

So if your budget is pressed I would suggest a Quiet One Pro 1200....$18 at drfost. You should have a backup for your return pump – you can probably afford one at this price!!!!

(These used to be made in Italy, but now made in China....same design and the company stands by them with a good warranty, so...)

If you wanted to still go high-end, a Sicce Syncra 1.5 would do it well for around $50-$70:
Syncra_flowchart.jpg


(Also, I don't really recommend getting a backup for anything else, but losing a return pump is almost always a huge deal and it never happens at an opportune time. And $18 isn't much!)

Yea if you do not like the dc pumps, they are less reliable without a doubt than some ac pumps but they are getting better. The dc pumps are very quiet and why most use them.
Like mccarroll recommended the Sicce are very reliable pumps or the Tunze which is the same pump. I ran the Tunze for 3 years on my frag set up with out being cleaned and it still performs like new. The magnet and everything shows now wear at all. They are not as quiet as DC pumps but they are still pretty quiet compared to most ac pumps. I mean you want super reliability the Sicce/tunze pumps are the way to go and not to bad in price.
 

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